Valve for heating or other systems where steam is employed.



No. 822,114. PATENTED MAY 29, 1906. F. 0. GOPF & H. H. FIELDING. VALVEFOR HEATI G 0E OTEE SYSTEMS WHERE STEAM IS EMPLOYED.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 27. 1905.

panes srATns PATENT omen.

FRANK C. GOFF AND HOIVARD H. FIELDING, OF DENVER, GOLORADC).

VALVE FOR HEATING OR OTHER SYSTEMS WHERE STEAM IS EMPLOYED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ratented May 29, 1906.

Application filed March 2'7, 1905. Serial No. 252,176.

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK C. GOFF and HOWARD H. FIELDING, citizens ofthe United States, residing in the city and county of Denver and Stateof Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valvesfor Heating or other Systems where Steam is Employedjand we do declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

Our invention relates more especially to means for draining the water ofcondensation from steam systems, whether for heating or other purposes.

Our improved drainage device may also be equipped with means forallowing the escape of air from the system, thus performing the functionof an air-valve in addition to the drainage function.

An important feature of our improved device consists in the mechanismwhereby the valve is normally open, thus allowing any accumulated waterof condensation in the ra diator or other receptacle to escape when thesteam is shut off, thereby avoiding any possibility of the freezing ofany water of condensation in the system.

The valve proper of our improved device may be operated by a suitablemotor, as a flexible diaphragm or a piston, connected with thevalve-stem. A spring normally acts on the diaphragm or piston to openthe valve. When, however, the steam is turned on, the pressure normallyacts on the diaphragm or piston in opposition to the spring to close thevalve, thus preventing the escape of steam into the drainage-pipe. When,however, there is an accumulation of water in the system, this watercollects in the valve-casing and acts on a float connected with thelever to open a port in the hollow valve-stem, allowing the pressure inthe compartments above and below the piston or diaphragm to equalize, inwhich event the force of the spring will act on the piston or diaphragmto open the valve, and this condition will obtain until the water hasescaped from the system into the drainage-pipe, when the lever will beagain actuated by the gravity of the float to close the orifice in thehollow valve-stem,

Having briefly outlined our improved construction, as well as thefunction it is intended to perform, we will proceed to describe the samein detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in whichis illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a section taken through our improved valvemechanism, a portion of the construction being shown in elevation andthe valve being open. Fig. 2 is a similar View with the parts shown on asmaller scale and with the valve closed. In this view no provision ismade for the escape of the air from the system except as it leaves thecasing with the water. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showinganother form of construction, the valve being in the open position.

Attention is called to the fact that in Figs. 1 and 3 the valve is shownin positionwhen the radiator is idle and drained, while Fig. 2 shows thevalve immediately before the valvepiece is moved to allow theaccumulated water to escape.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate a suitable casing provided with a nipple 6,connected with a short pipe 7 by means of a coupling 8, engaging ashoulder 9 on the pipe, the said pipe engaging a bushing 10, seatedagainst the extremity of'the nipple, a suitable packing 12 beinginterposed between the bushing and the nipple.

The device is connected withthe radiator or other portion of a steamsystem (not shown) by means of the short pipe 7 andits connections or inany other suitable manner adapted to form a steam-tight joint betweenthe system and the casing 5. In the lower part of this casing is formedan opening 13, surrounded by a bushing 14, into which a valve 15 isadapted to fit closely. This valve is connected with the lower extremityof a hollow stem 16, to which is attached a collar 17, provided with aclaw 18, adapted to engage the bushing at the top and limit the downwardmovement of the valve after the same is opened or in the position shownin Fig. 1. In the form of construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the upperextremity of this hollow valve-stem is connected with a flexiblediaphragm 19, whose outer portion engages a shoulder 20, formed intheupper part of the casing. This diaphragm is held in place from aboveby a screw-cap 21, threaded into the casing. A gasket 22 is located ICObetween the cap and the upper part of the .casing in order to form atight joint.

lever-arm 27 is considerably longer than the arm 25, and its extremityis provided with a float 28, the. construction being such that normallyor when the casing is free from liquid the orifice 24 will be closed bythe upper arm of the lever, which forms a valve for this purpose. When,however, in the active operation of the system water accumulates in thecasing sufliciently to act on the float 28 and raise the same, as shownin Fig. 2, the orifice 24 will be opened, allowing the pressure in thecompartments 29 and 30, into which the casing-chamber is separated bythe diaphragm, to equalize, since the hollow valve-stem is open at itsupper extremity.

In the form of construction shown in Fig. 3 a piston 31 is employedinstead of the flexible diaphragm 19. This piston is connected with theupper'extremity of the hollow stem 16, and the spring 23 acts thereoninstead of upon the diaphragm in the forms of construction shown inFigs. 1 and 2.

From the foregoing description the use and operation of our improveddevice as thus far described will be readily understood. Assuming thatthe same is connected with a steam system, as the steam enters the chamber of the casing, assuming that the parts are in the position shownin Figs. 1 and 3, the steam-pressure acts on the piston or diaphragm,asfthe case may be, and raises the valve 15 to the closed position, asshown in Fig. 2, thus preventing the steam from entering the drain-pipe.(Not shown.) Now as suming that water of condensation is in the system,as soon as this water rises in the easing to a suflicient depth to acton the float 28 and raise the same the lever 26 will be actuated toopen-the orifice 2 1 allowing the pressure in the-compartments 29 and 30of the casing-chamber to equalize. In this event it is evident that thetension of the spring 23 will act on the diaphragm or piston, as thecase may be, and open the valve, allowing the water of condensationtoescape through the opening 13 into the drain-pipe. As soon as this waterpasses out of the system the float will again assume its normalposition, closing the orifice 24, and the operation of the steam will bethe same as before. Attention is called to the fact that as the steamacts on the diaphragm or piston to close the valve Below the diaphragmthis its action is in opposition to the spring 23, whereby the latter isplaced under tension. Hence as soon as the fluid-pressure is equal-'ized above and below the diaphragm or piston the recoil of the springnaturally opens the valve, as heretofore explained.

In the construction shown in Fig. 1 means are provided for allowing theair to escape from the system after the water is drained out and thevalve 15 closed. This mechanism consists of a tube 32, composed of material possessing the property of expansion and contraction to aconsiderable degree. Mounted above this tube is a cap 33, which issupported slightly above the top of the tube by a coil-spring 34 whenthe system is cold, thus allowing air to escape from thesystem throughthe tube 32 and ducts 33, communicating with a passage 34, leading tothe opening in the bottom of the casing. As soon, however, as steamenters the chamber the tube 34 expands sufficiently to close the spacebetween it and the cap, thus preventing the escape of steam. The furtherexpansion of the tube after it comes in engagement with the cap ispermitted by virtue of the spring 34, which stretches sufliciently toaccommodate such expansion.

Attention is called to the fact that if a partial vacuum be produced atthe drain-pipe end or water-discharge extremity of the easing thiscondition will be communicated to the compartment 30 of thevalve-chamber, since the valve-stem 16 is hollow and openended, thishaving a tendency to hold the valve in the closed position, assumingthat it is closed. If the valve is open, a partial vacuum produced atthe drain-pipe end of the casing will have no eflect upon the motor,since the conditions are exactly the same on both sides thereof.

Having thus described our invention,what we claim isv 1. The combinationwith a steam system, of a casing connected with the system and having anopening for the escape of the water of condensation, an alternatingfluid-actuated device movably mounted in the casing and separating itschamber into two compartments, a valve for controlling said opening, astem connected with the valve and with the fluid-actuated device, thevalvestem having a longitudinal passage and an orifice formingcommunication between the two compartments, a float, means connectedtherewith for controlling said orifice, and means for normally holdingthe valve open. 2. The combination with a steam system, of a casingconnected. with the system, an opening in the casing for the passage'ofwater of condensation, a valve for controlling said opening, analternating fluid-actuated device connected with the valve andseparating the casing-chamber into two compartments, a passage formingcommunication.

slzaii tion between the two compartments of the casing-chamber, afloat-regulatedvalve for controlling said passage, and means for holdingthe first-named valve normally open.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluidsystem, of a casing having an escape-opening, a valve for controllingsaid opening, an alternating fluid-actuated device connected with thevalve, and dividing the easing into two compartments, mechanical meansacting on the said device to hold the valve open in the absence offluidcontrolling influence, a passage connecting the two compartments ofthe casing, and float-regulated means for controlling said passage.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluidsystem, of a casing connected therewith and having an escapeopening, avalve for controlling said opening, a hollow valve-stem, a deviceconnected with the valve-stem, and movably mounted in the casing, thesaid device separating the easing into two compartments, the valve-stembeing provided with an orifice which when open allows the pressure inthe two compartments to equalize, a spring acting on the movable devicefor holding the valve open in the absence of fluid-controllinginfluence, and a float-controlled valve for regulating the orilice inthe hollow valve-stem.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluidsystem, of a casing communicating with said system and having anescape-opening in the lower part thereof, a valve for controlling saidopening, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the casing and separating thechamber of the latter into two compartments, a valve-stem connecting thevalve and the diaphragm, a spring acting on the diaphragm to hold thevalve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence, a pas sageforming communication between the two chamber-compartments, andfluid-regulated means for controlling said passage.

6. The combination with a system of the class described, of a casingconnected therewith and having a bottom opening, a valve for controllingsaid opening, a flexible diaphragm separating the casing-chamber intotwo compartments, a hollow valve-stem connecting the diaphragm andvalve, the said stem being provided with an orifice which when openforms communication between the two chamber-compartments, a leverfulcrumed on the valve-stem, one extremity being adapted to control saidorifice, a float connected with the lever, a spring acting on thediaphragm to hold the valve open in the absence of fluid-controllinginfluence, a stop mounted on the valve-stem to limit the movement of thelatter in the valve-opening direc- 7. The combination with a system ofthe class described, of a casing provided with a water-escape opening inits bottom, a valve for controlling said opening, an alternatingfluid-actuated device connected with the valve, mechanical means actingon the valve to hold the latter open in the absence of fluidcontrollinginfluence, the said device separating the casing-chamber into twocompartments, a passage forming a communication between the twocompartments, float-controlled means for regulating said passage, andsuitable means mounted in the casing for permitting the escape of airfrom the system independently of the mechanism for regu lating thewater-escape.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluidsystem, of a casing connected with the system to receive the water ofcondensation therefrom, said casing having a water-escape opening, avalve for controlling said opening, an alternating motor connected withthe valve, said motor being operated by the fluid-pressure of thesystem, and mechanical means acting on the motor to hold the valveopenin the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

9. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected with thesystem to receive the water of condensation therefrom, amotor-controlled valve operated by the fluidpressure of the system forregulating the discharge of water from the casing, and means for holdingthe valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

10. The combination with a radiating device, of a casing connected withthe device to receive the water of condensation therefrom, amotor-controlled valve operated by the fluid-pressure, of the system forregulating the discharge of water from the casing, and means acting onthe motor to hold the valve open in the absence of fluid-controllinginfluence.

11. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected toreceive the water of condensation therefrom, and a motorcontrolled valveoperated by the fluid-pressure of the system for regulating thedischarge of water from the casing, the said valve being open in theabsence of fluid-controlling influonce.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluidsystem, of a casing connected therewith to receive the water ofcondensation therefrom and having an escape-opening, a valve operated bythe fluid pressure of the system for controlling the said opening, ahollow valve-stem open at both ends, afluid-actuated device connectedwith the valve-stem and dividing the casingchamber into twocompartments, the lower compartment being in connection with the' fluidsystem, and the upper compartment in communication with thedischarge-outlet of the casing below the escape-opening, and means forholding the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

13. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected with thesystem to receive the water of condensation therefrom, amotor-controlled valve operated by the fluidpressure of the system forregulating the removal of water from the system, and means for holdingthe-valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

14. The combination with a radiating device, of a casing connected withthe device to receive the water of condensation therefrom, amotor-controlled valve operated by the fluid-pressure of the system forregulating the removal of Water from the system, and means acting on themotor to hold the valve open in the absence of fluid-controlling influ-'ence.

15. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing connected toreceive the Water of condensation therefrom, and a motor-controlledvalve operated by the fluid-pressure of the system, located in thecasing for regulating the removal of water from the system, the saidvalve being open in the absence of fluid-controlling influence.

16. In a device of the class described, the combination with a fluidsystem, of a casing connected to receive the water of condensationtherefrom, a motor-controlled valve located in the casing for regulatingthe removal of water from the system, said valve being open in theabsence of fluid-controlling influence, and an automatically-controlledairvalve located Within the casing of the main valve but distinct andseparate therefrom and operated independently thereof.

17. The combination with a fluid system, of a casing, a discharge-pipe,a main valve within the casing, a pressure-motor for operating thevalve, means for holding the valve open in the absence offluid-controlling influence, and an automatically-controlled airvalvehaving its discharge-opening in communication with the return ordischarge pipe, the air-valve being located Within the casing of themain valve but distinct and separate therefrom and operatedindependently thereof.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twoWitnesses.

FRANK O. GOFF. HOWARD H. FIELDING.

Witnesses:

DENA NELsoN, IDA E. OBRIEN.

